Screening for HCC

Screening patients at high risk for HCC allows for the most options for treatment, including liver resection and liver transplantation. Patients at high risk for HCC include:

• Patients with cirrhosis
• Patients with underlying hepatitis B with or without cirrhosis
• Patients with exposures to certain carcinogenic substances such as aflatoxin

Patients with cirrhosis, particularly cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis B or C, hemochromatosis, and alcohol, should be screened at 6 to 12 month intervals. The major screening tools include:

• CT - Computed Tomography
• MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Ultrasound
• Image Guided Liver Biopsy

Related link: Diagnostic Procedures and Imaging